Ok, full disclosure… I used to think Travel Agents were pretty pointless in this day and age.
Don’t get me wrong, there was a time when I used to love walking into a Virgin Holidays or Thomas Cook on the High Street, have a look at the brochures & then sit down & book a holiday with an advisor. I only ever used them for big holidays, like my first trip to Disney or my honeymoon, because they felt too complicated for me to do by myself. But there was something really exciting about going into a Travel Agent & having more of an ‘experience’. But, as the online booking platforms got bigger & more popular & high street travel agents closed down, one after the other, I thought it was a completely dying trade.
I mean who needs a Travel Agent when theres booking. com or Expedia?
Last year, a friend of mine started her own travel agent business. And honestly at first I thought.. but why would anyone need you? Aren’t you more expensive than booking online? Don’t I have to pay for your services? I didn’t say any of this out loud of course, I just watched & supported. But, slowly, as she shared her journey, not only did I see the benefits and rewards in using a Travel Agent, but in January 2022, I decided I would join her & become an Independent Travel Agent.
So, I’m here now completely & utterly converted (and totally biased) to tell you why, in 2023, you need an Independent Travel Agent to book all of your holidays whether big or small!
Here we go….
1). They are often Cheaper
Independent Travel Agents work like brokers. They are completely independent & so, unlike going to a specific company like Virgin or BA, who only sell you their holidays & have set prices, Independent Travel Agents can search a whole library of travel suppliers to find you the best prices. They also have access to trade only suppliers, that the general public would not be able to access. They have access to special deals & rates and they can often price match, if not beat other quotes that you may have found. Plus they can often point out the hidden charges that make the holiday look cheaper elsewhere. For example, city taxes or resort fees they may not be included in the price you see online.
2). They are FREE
Independent Travel Agents are completely free to use. They get paid a commission from the hotels, airline or travel suppliers for booking with them. The Travel industry is highly competitive. There are thousands of hotels for example & not enough guests to fill all of the accommodation available. Commission is attached to everything in the Travel Industry, so if you book with a big online booking site like booking.com - they will receive the commission. If you book through an Independent Travel Agent - they will receive the commission.
3). They are Convenient
Some people love researching & planning all their holiday trips and some people absolutely hate it. If you hate it, well it’s a complete no-brainer to let someone else do all the work for you. It’s less hassle than searching online, it’s less time consuming to research and look for places and even if you love doing all of the research, using a Travel Agent is still going to save you the time actually booking and a lot less stressful than making sure you’ve done everything right yourself.
4). They are Knowledgable & Experienced
Good Independent Travel Agents are experts in their field. Most travel suppliers & hotels offer excellent training for Travel Agents to make sure that they sell their hotels and packages in the best way. That means they will know the best time of year to visit certain places, they will know what the best hotels have to offer their guests, they will know what visa’s you need for certain countries or what types of holiday resorts are best for families or couples. Travel Agents can advise on the best places to go and things to do. They offer so much more knowledge and expertise that you just don’t get from booking yourself online.
5). They can provide a Personalised Service
Independent Travel Agents can cater to your specific needs and requirements. They can create a bespoke package that matches what you want & need. For example, you might think Santorini is the perfect place to visit for you and your young family, when in fact it is not suitable at all for buggies or pram, as everything is accessed by stairs - lots of them. A good Independent Travel Agent will fact find what you want and need from your trip and be able to suggest and match you to the perfect setting or destination. If you need to split payments across a period of time, or pay on arrival, they will match you to the right supplier. They can also build an entire itinerary for you from flights and hotel, to transfers, car hire, tours, excursions and even restaurant reservations and theatre tickets.
6). They are a friendly advocate & point of contact
God forbid anything should go wrong with your trip, your Independent Travel Agent will be able to help you get your vacation back on track. The last thing you want is to come across a problem and have to call an automated telephone line or be on hold for ages trying to speak to a human. An Independent Travel Agent will be on the other end of the phone. They can be your advocate with the hotel, airline or travel supplier if you come across any issues and that can be invaluable. If you have any queries or concerns before or during your holiday, they will also be a point of contact to help and assist you.
7). They are Resourceful
Independent Travel Agents have access to suppliers that the general public do not. They have access to special tours and excursions that are only available to book with a travel agent - for example exotic tours, treks, private jets, boats etc. They have also built relationships with hotels & suppliers, which can help get you the best rooms, best seats or let you know if there are any little extras that the hotels are offering and that you are entitled to. They are part of a global network and will often hear news before it becomes general knowledge, whether that’s where the latest ‘It’ destination is, to which hotels or airlines are going bust and you should avoid at all costs.
8). They provide extra service & added value
There are a lot of extras that can be added to a holiday, that you may not know about when booking online. An Independent Travel Agent can arrange for free transfers from the airport to the hotel, that you otherwise would have needed to pay for. They can ask for free room upgrades on your behalf and are much more likely to get them, than if you asked yourself - the reason going back to what I explained about hotels being competitive. The hotels want the Travel Agents to keep sending them clients and so to keep repeat bookings, they will accommodate as much as they can. Ever wondered why some guests are given free bottles of champagne upon arrival or little gifts left in their room? It’s likely that they used an Independent Travel Agent.
9). They have more protection
I bet you’ll be surprised to hear that some of the biggest & most popular booking sites that you use online do NOT provide you with as much protection as an Independent Travel Agent does. A good Independent Travel Agent will be ATOL and ABTA protected. ATOL gives you financial & legal protection when booking a package holiday. ABTA means that the Travel Agent is bound by a code of conduct as per ABTA guidelines.
10). They are a great way to support small businesses
Not only do the big online booking sites not need you. But, because they are booking such a high volume of rooms, they demand higher commissions from hotels. They do not offer a full service, they don’t know their clients & they don’t rely on repeat business. Hotels therefore hate them!
I have personally had this confirmed by hotel managers around the world. The hotels also confirmed that they will often give the best rooms to clients that booked direct or with a travel agent and the less popular rooms are allocated to the big online booking sites. So, by booking with an Independent Travel Agent, not only are you supporting their small business, you’ll also benefit in lots of ways too.
It goes without saying that there are good and bad in every profession and industry - Travel Agents are no exception. So, make sure you find a good Independent Travel Agent. Do some research, get a recommendation and ask some questions! Don’t be scared to ask them what happens if something goes wrong, ask what protection they offer and you should know fairly quickly if they're a professional that you want to work with. Likewise, once you find a good Travel Agent, make sure you recommend them to everyone you can.
I hope this is helpful, add your comments or questions below.
Lots of love Shereen, The Travel Saint xx
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